With Cardinals possibly shopping Matt Leinart, QB says he doesn't want to be a backup in NFL

Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart told Fox Sports' Jay Glazer that he does not intend to be a backup QB, even as ESPN reported that the Cardinals have discussed a trade for Leinart with three other teams.

Glazer, who has done MMA training with Leinart, said on the Dan Patrick radio show that he had told Leinart recently that some teams had asked him about the QB's character.

Leinart's response about potentially being a backup, via Glazer:

"He's done enough in this league ... he wants to be a starter somewhere."

ESPN said the Cardinals had discussed trading Leinart to the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants. On the Giants, Leinart would surely be a backup to Eli Manning, and likely would play a similar tole on the Raiders to Jason Campbell. In Buffalo, Leinart might be able to vie eventually for the team's open QB job, but the Bills on Wednesday denied they were considering Leinart.

ESPN also reported that the Cardinals are trying to gauge a market for Leinart, their first-round pick in 2006 who started 11 games his rookie year but just six games since.

Leinart lashed out at the Cardinals on Monday when he said he had "outplayed the competition" in pursuit of the team's starting QB job this year. Leinart is vying with Derek Anderson for the starting job vacated when Kurt Warner retired last winter.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt installed Anderson as the starter for last week's preseason game, but hasn't decided on a starter for the regular season.

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About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate